List of the longest-running Broadway shows

This is a list of Broadway shows with 1,000 or more performances, sorted by number of performances. Eleven shows currently running on Broadway have at least 1,000 performances: the 1996 revival of Chicago, The Lion King, Wicked, The Book of Mormon, Aladdin, Hamilton, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Hadestown, Moulin Rouge!, Six, and MJ the Musical.

The Phantom of the Opera ran at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway from 1988 to 2023.

List

Unless otherwise noted, the run count listed is for the original Broadway production of the show. M denotes a musical, P denotes a straight play, R denotes revue, D denotes a dance show, and S denotes a special show or event. Totals current through November 17, 2024.

Rank	Title	Type	Performances	Opening date	Closing date	Awards	Additional information
1	The Phantom of the Opera	M	13,981[1]	January 26, 1988	April 16, 2023	7 Tony Awards in 1988, including Best Musical 7 Drama Desk Awards in 1988	Broadway's longest-running show and musical First ever Broadway production with total performances to achieve each additional 1,000 performance increment from 8,000+ through 13,000+
2	Chicago (1996 revival)	M	11,001[2]	November 14, 1996		6 Tony Awards in 1997, including Best Revival of a Musical 6 Drama Desk Awards in 1997, including Outstanding Revival of a Musical Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album in 1998	Currently running at the Ambassador Theatre (venue since 2003) Broadway's longest running current show and musical Broadway's longest running revival Original production in 1975 (936 performances) Longest running show to have premiered on Broadway Broadway's longest running American show
3	The Lion King	M	10,623[3]	November 13, 1997		6 Tony Awards in 1998, including Best Musical 8 Drama Desk Awards in 1998 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album in 1999	Currently running at the Minskoff Theatre (venue since 2006) Longest running Disney Theatrical Productions show Highest-grossing Broadway show in history Longest-running Broadway show directed by a woman (Julie Taymor)
4	Wicked	M	8,160[4]	October 30, 2003		3 Tony Awards in 2004 7 Drama Desk Awards in 2004, including Outstanding Musical Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album in 2005	Currently running at the Gershwin Theatre (venue since opening)
5	Cats	M	7,485[5]	October 7, 1982	September 10, 2000	7 Tony Awards in 1983, including Best Musical 3 Drama Desk Awards in 1983 Grammy Award for Best Cast Show Album in 1984	First ever Broadway production with 7,000+ performances Revival in 2016 (593 performances)
6	Les Misérables	M	6,680[6]	March 12, 1987	May 18, 2003	8 Tony Awards in 1987, including Best Musical 5 Drama Desk Awards in 1987, including Outstanding Musical Grammy Award for Best Musical Cast Show Album in 1988 and 1991	Revivals in 2006 (463 performances) and 2014 (1,024 performances)
7	A Chorus Line	M	6,137[7]	July 25, 1975	April 28, 1990	9 Tony Awards in 1976, including Best Musical 5 Drama Desk Awards in 1976, including Outstanding Musical A Special Tony Award in 1984 for becoming Broadway's longest-running musical Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1976	First ever Broadway production with 4,000, 5,000 and 6,000+ performances Revival in 2006 (759 performances)
8	Oh! Calcutta! (1976 revival)	R	5,959[8]	September 24, 1976	August 6, 1989		Original production in 1969 (1,314 performances) First revival to match its original for 1000+ performances Broadway's longest-running revue
9	Mamma Mia!	M	5,758[9]	October 18, 2001	September 12, 2015		Longest running "jukebox musical" on Broadway
10	Beauty and the Beast	M	5,461[10]	April 18, 1994	July 29, 2007	A Tony Award in 1994
11	Rent	M	5,123[11]	April 29, 1996	September 7, 2008	4 Tony Awards in 1996, including Best Musical 6 Drama Desk Awards in 1996, including Outstanding Musical Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1996
12	The Book of Mormon	M	5,015[12]	March 24, 2011		9 Tony Awards in 2011, including Best Musical 5 Drama Desk Awards in 2011, including Outstanding Musical Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 2012	Currently running at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (venue since opening)
13	Jersey Boys	M	4,642[13]	November 6, 2005	January 15, 2017	4 Tony Awards in 2006, including Best Musical 2 Drama Desk Awards in 2006 Grammy Award for Best Theatre Show Album in 2006
14	Miss Saigon	M	4,092[14]	April 11, 1991	January 28, 2001	3 Tony Awards in 1991 4 Drama Desk Awards in 1991	Revival in 2017 (340 performances)
15	Aladdin	M	3,787[15]	March 20, 2014		A Tony Award in 2014 A Drama Desk Award in 2014	Currently running at the New Amsterdam Theatre (venue since opening)
16	42nd Street	M	3,486[16]	August 25, 1980	January 8, 1989	2 Tony Awards in 1981, including Best Musical 2 Drama Desk Awards in 1981	Revival in 2001 (1,524 performances)
17	Grease	M	3,388[17]	February 14, 1972	April 13, 1980	2 Drama Desk Awards in 1972	Revivals in 1994 (1,505 performances) and 2007 (554 performances)
18	Fiddler on the Roof	M	3,242[18]	September 22, 1964	July 2, 1972	9 Tony Awards in 1965, including Best Musical A Special Tony Award in 1972 for becoming Broadway's longest-running musical	Revivals in 1976 (167 performances), 1981 (53 performances), 1990 (241 performances), 2004 (781 performances), and 2015 (431 performances)
19	Hamilton	M	3,229[19]	August 6, 2015		11 Tony Awards in 2016, including Best Musical Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2016 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 2016	Currently running at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (venue since opening) Most Tony Award nominations for a production (16)
20	Life with Father	P	3,224[20]	November 8, 1939	July 12, 1947		Broadway's longest-running straight play
21	Tobacco Road	P	3,182[21]	December 4, 1933	May 31, 1941		First ever Broadway production with 3,000+ performances Revivals in 1942 (34 performances), 1943 (66 performances), and 1950 (7 performances)
22	Hello, Dolly!	M	2,844[22]	January 16, 1964	December 27, 1970	10 Tony Awards in 1964, including Best Musical A Drama Desk Award in 1970	Revivals in 1975 (42 performances), 1978 (147 performances), 1995 (116 performances), and 2017 (550 performances)
23	My Fair Lady	M	2,717[23]	March 15, 1956	September 29, 1962	6 Tony Awards in 1957, including Best Musical	Revivals in 1976 (377 performances), 1981 (120 performances), 1993 (165 performances), and 2018 (509 performances)
24	Hairspray	M	2,642[24]	August 15, 2002	January 4, 2009	8 Tony Awards in 2003, including Best Musical 10 Drama Desk Awards in 2003, including Outstanding Musical Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album in 2003
25	Mary Poppins	M	2,619[25]	November 16, 2006	March 3, 2013	A Tony Award in 2007 2 Drama Desk Awards in 2007
26	Avenue Q	M	2,534[26]	July 31, 2003	September 13, 2009	3 Tony Awards in 2004, including Best Musical	Original production moved Off-Broadway to New World Stages and ran for an additional 4,035 performances, closing May 26, 2019.
27	Kinky Boots	M	2,505[27]	April 4, 2013	April 7, 2019	6 Tony Awards in 2013, including Best Musical A Drama Desk Award in 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 2014
28	The Producers	M	2,502[28]	April 19, 2001	April 22, 2007	12 Tony Awards in 2001, including Best Musical 11 Drama Desk Awards in 2001, including Outstanding Musical Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album in 2002	Currently holds the record of Broadway production with the most Tony Award wins, winning 12.
29	Beautiful: The Carole King Musical	M	2,416[29]	January 12, 2014	October 27, 2019	2 Tony Awards in 2014 3 Drama Desk Awards in 2014 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 2015
30	Annie	M	2,377[30]	April 21, 1977	January 2, 1983	7 Tony Awards in 1977, including Best Musical 7 Drama Desk Awards in 1977, including Outstanding Musical Grammy Award for Best Cast Show Album in 1978	Revivals in 1997 (239 performances) and 2012 (487 performances)
	Cabaret (1998 revival)	M	2,377[31]	March 19, 1998	January 4, 2004	4 Tony Awards in 1998, including Best Revival of a Musical 3 Drama Desk Awards in 1998, including Outstanding Revival of a Musical	Original production in 1966 (1,165 performances) and revivals in 1987 (261 performances), 2014 (388 performances), and 2024 (240 performances, currently running at the August Wilson Theatre)
32	Man of La Mancha	M	2,328[32]	November 22, 1965	June 26, 1971	5 Tony Awards in 1966, including Best Musical	Revivals in 1972 (140 performances), 1977 (124 performances), 1992 (108 performances), and 2002 (304 performances)
	Rock of Ages	M	2,328[33]	April 7, 2009	January 18, 2015
34	Abie's Irish Rose	P	2,327[34]	May 23, 1922	October 1, 1927		First ever Broadway production with 2,000+ performances Revivals in 1937 (46 performances) and 1954 (20 performances)
35	Oklahoma!	M	2,212[35]	March 31, 1943	May 29, 1948	A Special Tony Award in 1993 for the show's 50th anniversary	Revivals in 1951 (100 performances), 1953 (40 performances), 1979 (293 performances), 2002 (388 performances), and 2019 (328 performances)
36	Smokey Joe's Cafe	R	2,036[36]	March 2, 1995	January 16, 2000		Broadway's longest running original music revue. The longest running musical revue, Oh! Calcutta!, was a revival.
37	Harry Potter and the Cursed Child	P	2,001[37]	April 22, 2018		6 Tony Awards in 2018, including Best Play 5 Drama Desk Awards in 2018	Currently running at the Lyric Theatre (venue since opening)
38	Pippin	M	1,944[38]	October 23, 1972	June 12, 1977	5 Tony Awards in 1973 5 Drama Desk Awards in 1973	Revival in 2013 (709 performances)
39	South Pacific	M	1,925[39]	April 7, 1949	January 16, 1954	10 Tony Awards in 1950, including Best Musical Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1950	Revivals in 1955 (15 performances) and 2008 (996 performances) Held the record of Broadway production with the most Tony Award wins for 51 years with 10 wins, until it was surpassed by The Producers, which won 12.
40	The Magic Show	M	1,920[40]	May 28, 1974	December 31, 1978
41	Aida	M	1,852[41]	March 23, 2000	September 5, 2004	4 Tony Awards in 2000 A Drama Desk Award in 2000 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album in 2001
42	Gemini	P	1,819[42]	May 21, 1977	September 6, 1981
43	Deathtrap	P	1,793[43]	February 26, 1978	June 13, 1982
44	Harvey	P	1,775[44]	November 1, 1944	January 15, 1949		Revival in 1970 (79 performances) and 2012 (62 performances)
45	Dancin'	D	1,774[45]	March 27, 1978	June 27, 1982	2 Tony Awards in 1978 2 Drama Desk Awards in 1978	Revival in 2023 (65 performances) Broadway's longest-running dance musical
46	La Cage aux Folles	M	1,761[46]	August 21, 1983	November 15, 1987	6 Tony Awards in 1984, including Best Musical 3 Drama Desk Awards in 1984	Revivals in 2004 (229 performances) and 2010 (433 performances)
47	Hair	M	1,750[47]	April 29, 1968	July 1, 1972	A Drama Desk Award in 1968 Grammy Award for Best Score from an Original Cast Show Album in 1969	Revivals in 1977 (43 performances), 2004 (1 benefit performance), 2009 (519 performances), and 2011 (67 performances)
48	Hadestown	M	1,700[48]	April 17, 2019		8 Tony Awards in 2019, including Best Musical 4 Drama Desk Awards in 2019 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 2020	Currently running at the Walter Kerr Theatre (venue since opening)
49	Dear Evan Hansen	M	1,672[49]	December 4, 2016	September 18, 2022	6 Tony Awards in 2017, including Best Musical Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 2018
	The Wiz	M	1,672[50]	January 5, 1975	January 28, 1979	7 Tony Awards in 1975, including Best Musical 5 Drama Desk Awards in 1975, including Outstanding Musical Grammy Award for Best Cast Show Album in 1976	Revivals in 1984 (13 performances) and 2024 (142 performances)
51	Come from Away	M	1,669[51]	March 12, 2017	October 2, 2022	A Tony Award in 2017 3 Drama Desk Awards in 2017, including Outstanding Musical
52	Born Yesterday	P	1,642[52]	February 4, 1946	December 31, 1949		Revivals in 1989 (153 performances) and 2011 (73 performances)
53	Crazy for You	M	1,622[53]	February 19, 1992	January 7, 1996	3 Tony Awards in 1992, including Best Musical 2 Drama Desk Awards in 1992, including Outstanding Musical
54	Ain't Misbehavin'	R	1,604[54]	May 9, 1978	February 21, 1982	3 Tony Awards in 1978, including Best Musical 3 Drama Desk Awards in 1978, including Outstanding Musical Grammy Award for Best Cast Show Album in 1979	Revival in 1988 (176 performances)
55	The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas	M	1,584[55]	June 19, 1978	March 27, 1982	2 Tony Awards in 1979 3 Drama Desk Awards in 1978	Revivals in 1982 (63 performances) and 2006 (1 benefit performance)
56	Spamalot	M	1,575[56]	March 17, 2005	January 11, 2009	3 Tony Awards in 2005, including Best Musical 3 Drama Desk Awards in 2005, including Outstanding Musical Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album in 2006	Revival in 2023 (164 performances)
57	Mary, Mary	P	1,572[57]	March 8, 1961	December 12, 1964
58	Evita	M	1,567[58]	September 25, 1979	June 26, 1983	7 Tony Awards in 1980, including Best Musical 6 Drama Desk Awards in 1980, including Outstanding Musical Grammy Award for Best Cast Show Album in 1981	Revival in 2012 (337 performances)
59	The Voice of the Turtle	P	1,557[59]	December 8, 1943	January 3, 1948
60	Matilda the Musical	M	1,554[60]	April 11, 2013	January 1, 2017	4 Tony Awards in 2013 5 Drama Desk Awards in 2013, including Outstanding Musical A Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre in 2013 for the four original leading actresses
61	Moulin Rouge!	M	1,553[61]	July 25, 2019		10 Tony Awards in 2020, including Best Musical 5 Drama Desk Awards in 2020	Currently running at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (venue since opening)
62	Waitress	M	1,544[62]	April 24, 2016	January 5, 2020	A Drama Desk Award in 2016	Revival in 2021 (122 performances)
63	Jekyll & Hyde	M	1,543[63]	April 28, 1997	January 7, 2001	2 Drama Desk Awards in 1997	Revival in 2013 (30 performances)
64	Barefoot in the Park	P	1,530[64]	October 23, 1963	June 25, 1967	A Tony Award in 1964	Revival in 2006 (109 performances)
65	42nd Street (2001 revival)	M	1,524[65]	May 2, 2001	January 2, 2005	2 Tony Awards in 2001, including Best Revival of a Musical A Drama Desk Award in 2001, Outstanding Revival of a Musical	Original production in 1980 (3,486 performances)
66	Dreamgirls	M	1,521[66]	December 20, 1981	August 11, 1985	6 Tony Awards in 1982 4 Drama Desk Awards in 1982 Grammy Award for Best Cast Show Album in 1983	Revivals in 1987 (177 performances) and 2001 (1 benefit performance)
67	Mame	M	1,508[67]	May 24, 1966	January 3, 1970	3 Tony Awards in 1966 Grammy Award for Best Score from an Original Cast Show Album in 1967	Revival in 1983 (41 performances)
68	Grease (1994 revival)	M	1,505[68]	May 11, 1994	January 25, 1998		Original production in 1972 (3,388 performances) and revival in 2007 (554 performances)
69	Same Time, Next Year	P	1,453[69]	March 14, 1975	September 3, 1978	A Tony Award in 1975 2 Drama Desk Awards in 1975, including Outstanding Play
70	Arsenic and Old Lace	P	1,444[70]	January 10, 1941	June 17, 1944		Revival in 1986 (221 performances)
71	The Sound of Music	M	1,443[71]	November 16, 1959	June 15, 1963	5 Tony Awards in 1960, including Best Musical Grammy Award for Best Show Album (Original Cast) in 1961	Revival in 1998 (533 performances)
72	Me and My Girl	M	1,420[72]	August 10, 1986	December 31, 1989	3 Tony Awards in 1987 5 Drama Desk Awards in 1987
73	How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying	M	1,417[73]	October 14, 1961	March 6, 1965	7 Tony Awards in 1962, including Best Musical Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1962 Grammy Award for Best Original Cast Show Album in 1962	Revivals in 1995 (548 performances) and 2011 (473 performances)
74	Hellzapoppin	R	1,404[74]	September 22, 1938	December 17, 1941
75	The Music Man	M	1,375[75]	December 19, 1957	April 15, 1961	6 Tony Awards in 1958, including Best Musical Grammy Award for Best Original Cast Album (Broadway or TV) in 1959	Revivals in 1980 (21 performances), 2000 (699 performances), and 2022 (373 performances)
76	Funny Girl	M	1,348[76]	March 26, 1964	July 1, 1967	Grammy Award for Best Score from an Original Cast Show Album in 1965	Revivals in 2002 (1 benefit performance) and 2022 (569 performances)
77	Mummenschanz	S	1,326[77]	March 30, 1977	April 20, 1980		Broadway's longest-running special
78	Oh! Calcutta!	R	1,314[78]	June 17, 1969	August 12, 1972		Original production Revival in 1976 (5,959 performances)
79	Billy Elliot the Musical	M	1,312[79]	November 13, 2008	January 8, 2012	10 Tony Awards in 2009, including Best Musical 10 Drama Desk Awards in 2009, including Outstanding Musical
80	School of Rock	M	1,309[80]	December 6, 2015	January 20, 2019
81	Movin' Out	D	1,303[81]	October 24, 2002	December 11, 2005	2 Tony Awards in 2003 A Drama Desk Award in 2003
82	Brighton Beach Memoirs	P	1,299[82]	March 27, 1983	May 11, 1986	A Tony Award in 1983	Revival in 2009 (9 performances)
83	Angel Street	P	1,295[83]	December 5, 1941	December 30, 1944		Revivals in 1948 (14 performances) and 1975 (52 performances)
84	Lightnin'	P	1,291[84]	August 26, 1918	August 27, 1921		First ever Broadway production with 1,000+ performances Revival in 1938 (54 performances)
85	Six	M	1,289[85]	October 3, 2021		2 Tony Awards in 2022 4 Drama Desk Awards in 2022	Currently running at the Lena Horne Theatre (venue since opening)
86	Promises, Promises	M	1,281[86]	December 1, 1968	January 1, 1972	2 Tony Awards in 1969 2 Drama Desk Awards in 1969 Grammy Award for Best Score from an Original Cast Show Album in 1970	Revival in 2010 (289 performances)
87	The King and I	M	1,246[87]	March 29, 1951	March 20, 1954	5 Tony Awards in 1952, including Best Musical	Revivals in 1977 (695 performances), 1985 (191 performances), 1996 (780 performances), and 2015 (499 performances)
88	Cactus Flower	P	1,234[88]	December 8, 1965	November 23, 1968
89	Sleuth	P	1,222[89]	November 12, 1970	October 13, 1973	A Tony Award in 1971, Best Play
	Torch Song Trilogy	P	1,222[90]	June 10, 1982	May 19, 1985	2 Tony Awards in 1983, including Best Play 2 Drama Desk Awards in 1983, including Outstanding Play	Revival in 2018 (77 performances)
91	1776	M	1,217[91]	March 16, 1969	February 13, 1972	3 Tony Awards in 1969, including Best Musical 2 Drama Desk Awards in 1969	Revivals in 1997 (333 performances) and 2022 (105 performances)
92	Equus	P	1,209[92]	October 24, 1974	October 2, 1977	2 Tony Awards in 1975, including Best Play 4 Drama Desk Awards in 1975, including Outstanding Play	Revival in 2008 (156 performances)
93	Sugar Babies	R	1,208[93]	October 8, 1979	August 28, 1982
94	Guys and Dolls	M	1,200[94]	November 24, 1950	November 28, 1953	5 Tony Awards in 1951, including Best Musical	Revivals in 1955 (31 performances), 1965 (15 performances), 1976 (239 performances), 1992 (1,143 performances), and 2009 (121 performances)
95	In the Heights	M	1,184[95]	March 9, 2008	January 9, 2011	4 Tony Awards in 2008, including Best Musical Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album in 2009
96	Amadeus	P	1,181[96]	December 17, 1980	October 16, 1983	5 Tony Awards in 1981, including Best Play 3 Drama Desk Awards in 1981, including Outstanding Play	Revival in 1999 (173 performances)
97	Once	M	1,168[97]	March 18, 2012	January 4, 2015	8 Tony Awards in 2012, including Best Musical 4 Drama Desk Awards in 2012, including Outstanding Musical Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 2013
98	Cabaret	M	1,165[98]	November 20, 1966	September 6, 1969	8 Tony Awards in 1967, including Best Musical Grammy Award for Best Score from an Original Cast Show Album in 1968	Revivals in 1987 (261 performances), 1998 (2,377 performances), 2014 (388 performances), and 2024 (240 performances, currently running at the August Wilson Theatre)
	Memphis	M	1,165[99]	October 19, 2009	August 5, 2012	4 Tony Awards in 2010, including Best Musical 4 Drama Desk Awards in 2010, including Outstanding Musical
	MJ the Musical	M	1,165[100]	February 1, 2022		4 Tony Awards in 2022 2 Drama Desk Awards in 2022	Currently running at the Neil Simon Theatre (venue since opening)
101	Mister Roberts	P	1,157[101]	February 18, 1948	January 6, 1951	5 Tony Awards in 1948, including Best Play
102	Annie Get Your Gun	M	1,147[102]	May 16, 1946	February 12, 1949		Revivals in 1966 (78 performances) and 1999 (1,045 performances) Oldest 1000+ original to be joined by 1000+ revival
103	Guys and Dolls (1992 revival)	M	1,143[103]	April 14, 1992	January 8, 1995	4 Tony Awards in 1992, including Best Revival of a Musical 7 Drama Desk Awards in 1992, including Outstanding Revival of a Musical Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album in 1993	Original production in 1950 (1,200 performances) and revivals in 1955 (16 performances), 1965 (15 performances), 1976 (239 performances), and 2009 (121 performances)
104	The Seven Year Itch	P	1,141[104]	November 20, 1952	August 13, 1955	A Tony Award in 1953
105	The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee	M	1,136[105]	May 2, 2005	January 20, 2008	2 Tony Awards in 2005 3 Drama Desk Awards in 2005
106	Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk	D	1,135[106]	April 25, 1996	January 10, 1999	4 Tony Awards in 1996 2 Drama Desk Awards in 1996
107	Butterflies Are Free	P	1,128[107]	October 21, 1969	July 2, 1972	A Tony Award in 1970
108	Pins and Needles	R	1,108[108]	November 27, 1937	June 22, 1940
109	Plaza Suite	P	1,097[109]	February 14, 1968	October 3, 1970	A Tony Award in 1968	Revival in 2022 (110 performances)
110	Fosse	D	1,093[110]	January 14, 1999	August 25, 2001	3 Tony Awards in 1999, including Best Musical A Drama Desk Award in 1999
111	They're Playing Our Song	M	1,082[111]	February 11, 1979	September 6, 1981
112	Kiss Me, Kate	M	1,077[112]	December 30, 1948	July 28, 1951	5 Tony Awards in 1949, including Best Musical	Revivals in 1952 (8 performances), 1999 (881 performances), and 2019 (125 performances) First show to win the Tony Award for Best Musical, among other Tony awards
113	Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark	M	1,066[113]	June 14, 2011	January 4, 2014		Most expensive production in Broadway history Longest preview period in Broadway history (182 previews)
114	Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope	R	1,065[114]	April 19, 1972	October 27, 1974	2 Drama Desk Awards in 1972 Grammy Award for Best Score from an Original Cast Show Album in 1973
115	The Pajama Game	M	1,063[115]	May 13, 1954	November 24, 1956	3 Tony Awards in 1955, including Best Musical	Revivals in 1973 (65 performances) and 2006 (129 performances)
116	Shenandoah	M	1,050[116]	January 7, 1975	August 7, 1977	2 Tony Awards in 1975 2 Drama Desk Awards in 1975	Revival in 1989 (32 performances)
117	Annie Get Your Gun (1999 revival)	M	1,045[117]	March 4, 1999	September 1, 2001	2 Tony Awards in 1999, including Best Revival of a Musical A Drama Desk Award in 1999 A Special Drama Desk Award in 2001 for Reba McEntire Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album in 2000	Original production in 1946 (1,147 performances) and revival in 1966 (78 performances)
118	The Teahouse of the August Moon	P	1,027[118]	October 15, 1953	March 24, 1956	3 Tony Awards in 1954, including Best Play Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1954
119	Les Misérables (2014 revival)	M	1,024[119]	March 23, 2014	September 4, 2016		Original production in 1987 (6,680 performances) and revival in 2006 (463 performances)
120	Damn Yankees	M	1,019[120]	May 5, 1955	October 12, 1957	7 Tony Awards in 1956, including Best Musical	Revival in 1994 (533 performances)
121	Grand Hotel	M	1,017[121]	November 12, 1989	April 25, 1992	5 Tony Awards in 1990 5 Drama Desk Awards in 1990
122	Contact	D	1,010[122]	March 30, 2000	September 1, 2002	4 Tony Awards in 2000, including Best Musical 4 Drama Desk Awards in 2000, including Outstanding Musical
123	Never Too Late	P	1,007[123]	November 27, 1962	April 24, 1965
124	Beatlemania	M	1,006[124]	May 31, 1977	October 17, 1979
125	Big River	M	1,005[125]	April 25, 1985	September 20, 1987	7 Tony Awards in 1985, including Best Musical 7 Drama Desk Awards in 1985	Revival in 2003 (67 performances)
126	Newsies	M	1,004[126]	March 29, 2012	August 24, 2014	2 Tony Awards in 2012 2 Drama Desk Awards in 2012

Timeline of longest-running Broadway shows

The Black Crook, which ran from 1866 to 1868, was the first Broadway show to run for over one year.^[127]

This is a list of shows that have held the record for being the longest-running show (including straight plays and musicals) on Broadway since 1853. A few probable longest-running plays prior to 1853 are also listed.

Not included below is the 1976 revival of the revue Oh! Calcutta!, which briefly overtook A Chorus Line as the Broadway show which had played the most performances, even though A Chorus Line had opened more than a year earlier and was still playing. Oh! Calcutta! achieved this distinction by playing more than the standard eight performances per week.^[128] A Chorus Line retook the record for most performances after Oh! Calcutta! closed.

The longest running off-Broadway musical to date is The Fantasticks, which starred Jerry Orbach. When it closed on January 13, 2002, it had run for 42 years and 17,162 performances, making it the world's longest-running musical. The current longest-running musical on Broadway is The Phantom of the Opera, which opened in 1988 and played its final performance in 2023.^[129]

M denotes a musical and P denotes a straight play.

Took lead	Title	Type	Opening date	Closing date	Performances	Comments/Notes
2006-01-09January 9, 2006[130]	The Phantom of the Opera	M	1988-01-26January 26, 1988	2023-04-16April 16, 2023	13,981[1]	7 Tony Awards in 1988, including Best Musical 7 Drama Desk Awards in 1988 Broadway's longest-running show and musical
1997-06-19June 19, 1997[131]	Cats	M	1982-10-07October 7, 1982	2000-09-09September 10, 2000	7,485[5]	7 Tony Awards in 1983, including Best Musical 3 Drama Desk Awards in 1983 Grammy Award for Best Cast Show Album in 1984 Revival in 2016 (593 performances)
1983-09-29September 29, 1983[132]	A Chorus Line	M	1975-07-25July 25, 1975	1990-04-28April 28, 1990	6,137[7]	9 Tony Awards in 1976, including Best Musical 5 Drama Desk Awards in 1976, including Outstanding Musical A Special Tony Award in 1984 for becoming Broadway's longest-running musical Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1976 Revival in 2006 (759 performances)
1979-12-08December 8, 1979[133]	Grease	M	1972-02-14February 14, 1972	1980-04-13April 13, 1980	3,388[17]	2 Drama Desk Awards in 1972 Revivals in 1994 (1,505 performances) and 2007 (554 performances)
1972-06-17June 17, 1972[134]	Fiddler on the Roof	M	1964-09-22September 22, 1964	1972-07-02July 2, 1972	3,242[18]	Became longest running musical in July 1971, at 2,845 performances passing 2,844 mark of Hello Dolly!.[135] 9 Tony Awards in 1965, including Best Musical A Special Tony Award in 1972 for becoming Broadway's longest-running musical Revivals in 1976 (167 performances), 1981 (53 performances), 1990, (241 performances), 2004 (781 performances), and 2015 (431 performances)
1947-06-14June 14, 1947[136]	Life with Father	P	1939-11-08November 8, 1939	1947-07-12July 12, 1947	3,224[20]	Broadway's longest-running straight play. Started at Empire Theatre, moved to the Bijou Theatre in 1945, and finished up its run in 1947 at the Alvin Theatre.
1939-06-01June 1939[137]	Tobacco Road	P	1933-12-04December 4, 1933	1941-05-31May 31, 1941	3,182[21]	Revivals in 1942 (34 performances), 1943 (66 performances), and 1950 (7 performances)
1925-05-23May 23, 1925[138]	Abie's Irish Rose	P	1923-05-23May 23, 1923	1927-10-1October 1, 1927	2,327[34]	Revivals in 1937 (46 performances) and 1954 (20 performances)
1920-03-17March 17, 1920[139][140][141]	Lightnin'	P	1918-08-26August 26, 1918	1921-08-27August 27, 1921	1,291[84]	Revival in 1938 (54 performances)
1893-06-22June 22, 1893[142]	A Trip to Chinatown	M	1891-11-09November 9, 1891	1893-08-07August 7, 1893	657[143]
1885-12-01December 1885[144]	Adonis	M	1884-09-04September 4, 1884	1886-04-17April 17, 1886	603[145]
1881-05-01May 1881	Hazel Kirke	P	1880-02-04February 4, 1880	1881-05-31May 31, 1881	486[146][147]	250th performance programme claimed play had exceeded number of consecutive performances of any "similar play" in the country on its 238th performance,[148] which is no doubt a reference to Pique (1875) which ran for 237 performances.[149]
1867-08-05August 5, 1867[150]	The Black Crook	M	1866-09-12September 12, 1866	1868-01-04January 4, 1868	474[151]	First Broadway show to run for over one year.[127] In terms of a "musical", The Seven Sisters (1860–61, 253 perf.), was probably the longest running show closest to a "musical" prior to this.[152]
1853-10-011853[153]	Uncle Tom's Cabin (Aiken version)	P	1853-08-23August 8, 1853	1854-05-13May 13, 1854	325[154]	Has generally been classified as a play, though some arguments have been made that it was a musical. Played at the National Theatre.[155][156][157]
1850-01-011850	The Drunkard	P	1850-01-011850	1850-10-07October 7, 1850?	100[158]	As of October 7, 1850, it hit 100 consecutive performances in New York, the first play to do so.[159] At Barnum's American Museum. It debuted in 1844 outside New York at the Boston Museum.
1844-09-24September 24, 1844	Putnam, the Iron Son of '76	P	1844-08-05August 5, 1844	1844-11-02November 2, 1844	78[160][161]	At the Bowery Theatre. If Mazeppa ran 43 nights in 1833 and was previous record, Putnam became most performed on its 44th performance on September 24, 1844.
1833-08-091833	Mazeppa, Or, The Wild Horse of Ukraine	P	1833-06-22July 22, 1833	1833-09-09September 9, 1833	43[162]	At the Bowery Theatre with George Gale as Mazeppa.[163][164][165]
1831-01-281831	The Elephant of Siam and the Fire Fiend by Samuel Beazley	P	1831-01-10January 10, 1831	1831?	18[165]	At the Bowery Theatre, the first season under Thomas S. Hamblin, who embraced melodramas which might support longer runs. The Elephant of Siam featured the elephant Mademoiselle D'Jeck, who of course needed to be used while available. The Water Witch, an adaption of a James Fenimore Cooper novel by Charles W. Taylor, which debuted on March 10, 1831, at the Bowery, also played for 18 performances.[165]

See also

• Long-running musical theatre productions
• List of the longest-running West End shows
• List of the shortest-running Broadway shows

References

Notes

1. "The Phantom of the Opera". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
2. "Chicago". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
3. "The Lion King". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
4. "Wicked". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
5. "Cats". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
6. "Les Misérables". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
7. "A Chorus Line". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
8. "Oh! Calcutta". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
9. "Mamma Mia!". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
10. "Beauty and the Beast". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
11. "Rent". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
12. "The Book of Mormon". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
13. "Jersey Boys". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
14. "Miss Saigon". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
15. "Aladdin". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
16. "42nd Street". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
17. "Grease". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
18. "Fiddler on the Roof". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
19. "Hamilton". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
20. "Life with Father". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
21. "Tobacco Road". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
22. "Hello, Dolly!". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
23. "My Fair Lady". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
24. "Hairspray". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
25. "Mary Poppins". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
26. "Avenue Q". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
27. "Kinky Boots". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
28. "The Producers". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
29. "Beautiful The Carole King Musical". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
30. "Annie". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
31. "Cabaret". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
32. "Man of La Mancha". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
33. "Rock of Ages". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
34. "Abie's Irish Rose". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
35. "Oklahoma!". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
36. "Smokey Joe's Cafe". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
37. "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
38. "Pippin". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
39. "South Pacific". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
40. "The Magic Show". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
41. "Aida". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
42. "Gemini". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
43. "Deathtrap". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
44. "Harvey". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
45. "Dancin'". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
46. "La Cage aux Folles". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
47. "Hair". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
48. "Hadestown". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
49. "Dear Evan Hansen". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
50. "The Wiz". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
51. "Come From Away". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
52. "Born Yesterday". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
53. "Crazy for You". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
54. "Ain't Misbehavin'". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
55. "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
56. "Spamalot". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
57. "Mary, Mary". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
58. "Evita". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
59. "The Voice of the Turtle". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
60. "Matilda The Musical". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
61. "Moulin Rouge! The Musical". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
62. "Waitress". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
63. "Jekyll & Hyde". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
64. "Barefoot in the Park". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
65. "42nd Street". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
66. "Dreamgirls". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
67. "Mame". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
68. "Grease". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
69. "Same Time, Next Year". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
70. "Arsenic and Old Lace". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
71. "The Sound of Music". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
72. "Me and My Girl". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
73. "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
74. "Hellzapoppin'". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
75. "The Music Man". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
76. "Funny Girl". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
77. "Mummenschanz". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
78. "Oh! Calcutta!". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
79. "Billy Elliot the Musical". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
80. "School of Rock – The Musical". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
81. "Movin' Out". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
82. "Brighton Beach Memoirs". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
83. "Angel Street". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
84. "Lightnin'". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
85. "Six". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
86. "Promises, Promises". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
87. "The King and I". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
88. "Cactus Flower". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
89. "Sleuth". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
90. "Torch Song Trilogy". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
91. "1776". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
92. "Equus". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
93. "Sugar Babies". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
94. "Guys and Dolls". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
95. "In the Heights". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
96. "Amadeus". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
97. "Once". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
98. "Cabaret". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
99. "Memphis". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
100. "MJ The Musical". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
101. "Mister Roberts". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
102. "Annie Get Your Gun". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
103. "Guys and Dolls". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
104. "The Seven Year Itch". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
105. "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
106. "Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
107. "Butterflies Are Free". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
108. "Pins and Needles". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
109. "Plaza Suite". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
110. "Fosse". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
111. "They're Playing Our Song". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
112. "Kiss Me, Kate". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
113. "Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
114. "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
115. "The Pajama Game". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
116. "Shenandoah". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
117. "Annie Get Your Gun". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
118. "The Teahouse of the August Moon". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
119. "Les Misérables". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
120. "Damn Yankees". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
121. "Grand Hotel". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
122. "Contact". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
123. "Never Too Late". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
124. "Beatlemania". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
125. "Big River". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
126. "Newsies The Musical". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
127. Steyn, Mark. Broadway Babies Say Goodnight: Musicals Then and Now, p. 3 (1997)
128. Rich, Frank (August 8, 1989). "Critic's Notebook; The Asterisks of 'Oh! Calcutta!'". The New York Times. Retrieved December 19, 2015.
129. "The World’s Longest-Running Musical Started Small – and Stayed Small", Time magazine
130. (January 6, 2006). ‘Phantom’ set to outlive ‘Cats’, Associated Press
131. (June 19, 1997). With 6,138 Lives, 'Cats' Sets Broadway Mark, The New York Times
132. Rothstein, Mervyn (April 30, 1990). After 15 Years (15!), 'A Chorus Line' Ends, The New York Times
133. (December 8, 1979). 'Grease' hits top of Broadway list, Associated Press
134. (June 19, 1972). Fiddler on the Roof longest running show, Ottawa Citizen (Associated Press)
135. (July 21, 1971). 'Fiddler on the Roof' longest run musical on Broadway, Associated Press
136. (June 13, 1947). 'Life With Father' - A Broadway Record, The Milwaukee Journal
137. (November 18, 1939). If Any Record Is Left, Play Breaks It Tonight, Milwaukee Journal (reporting that on November 18, 1939, Tobacco Road had 2,533rd performance, beating 2,532 mark that was being used as record for Abie's Irish Rose, though it had been discovered that number included over 200 non-Broadway performances, so that record had been made 5 months prior)
138. (May 24, 1925). 'Abie's Irish Rose' Makes Record Run. Its 1,292d Performance, One More Than "Lightnin'," Is America's Highest Score, The New York Times
139. (March 18, 1920). Lightnin' Breaks Record. Reaches 658th Performance, Eclipsing Long Run of Hoyt Farce, The New York Times
140. (May 1920). , Munsey's Magazine, p. 730 (" 'Lightnin' has now broken the record of 'A Trip to Chinatown' for the longest consecutive New York run ...")
141. Theatre Week (1990) (noting that at start of World War I, A Trip To Chinatown still held the record, which was beat by Lightnin after the war)
142. (July 1893). The Stage, Munsey's Magazine (reporting that A Trip to Chinatown had 604th performance on June 22, 1893)
143. "A Trip to Chinatown". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
144. (November 22, 1885). The Stage and Box Office, The New York Times (reporting that with 35 more performances, Adonis will bypass Hazel Kirke run of 486 performances)
145. "Adonis". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
146. "Hazel Kirke". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
147. The Oxford Companion to American Theatre, p. 298 (Hazel Kirke at 486 performances was longest run of its time of any nonmusical play)
148. Hazel Kirke: 250th performance programme (1880)
149. The Cambridge History of American Theatre, Vol. II, p. 239 (1999)
150. (August 5, 1867). Black Crook advertisement, New York Tribune, p. 7 col. 3 (advertisement for 326th performance of The Black Crook on August 5, 1867; no recognition at this time that it was likely the longest)
151. "The Black Crook". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
152. Allen, Robert C. (c. 1991). Horrible prettiness: burlesque and American culture. University of North Carolina. p. 106. ISBN 978-0-8078-1960-9.
153. Uncle Tom's Cabin, New York Dramatic Mirror (December 1905)
154. Some Long Theatrical Runs, The World Almanac and Encyclopedia 1903, p. 269 (1902)
155. (November 17, 1853). Uncle Tom's Cabin, The New York Times (notes that 116 performances had been held to that point)
156. (February 23, 1854). Uncle Tom's Cabin, The New York Times (reported that 230th performance would be that evening)
157. (June 19, 1854). Uncle Tom's Cabin (advertisement), The New York Times (announcing revival of play "as performed at the National Theatre 325 consecutive times")
158. The Drunkard as a Drama of the Temperance Movement, p. 3 (1995)
159. Culture, Genre, and Literary Vocation: Selected Essays on American Literature, p. 108 (2001)
160. The Cambridge Guide To Theatre, p. 76 (1995)
161. Ireland, Joseph, Records of the New York stage, from 1750 to 1860, pp. 417, 438
162. Granqvist, Raoul. Imitation as Resistance: Appropriations of English Literature in Nineteenth Century America, p. 170 (stating that Mazeppa ran at the Bowery Theatre for 48 consecutive nights)
163. (August 31, 1833). Amusements, New York Evening Post, p. 3, col. 5 (advertisement stating that evening will be 35th presentation of Mazeppa)
164. (September 9, 1833). Amusements, p. 3, col. 5 (announcing that Mazeppa will be performed that night "For the Benefit of Mr. Gale", appears to have been final consecutive performance)
165. Shank, Theodore J. (1959). "Theatre for the Majority: Its Influence on a Nineteenth Century American Theatre". Educational Theatre Journal. 11 (3): 188–199. doi:10.2307/3204801. JSTOR 3204801. See p. 196, noting that Mazeppa had 43 performances; Elephant of Siam and the Water Witch in 1831 had 18 each.

External links

• Playbill article, "Long Runs on Broadway"
• Internet Broadway Database
• List of plays that have achieved runs of over 400 performances on Broadway, Off-Broadway, London, Toronto, Melbourne, Paris, Vienna, and Berlin

Further reading

• Laufe, Abe. Anatomy of a Hit: Long-Run Plays on Broadway from 1900 to the Present Day. New York: Hawthorn Books, 1966.
• Schildcrout, Jordan. In the Long Run: A Cultural History of Broadway's Hit Plays. New York and London: Routledge, 2019.
• Sheward, David. It's a Hit!: The Back Stage Book of Longest-Running Broadway Shows, 1884 to the Present. New York: Back Stage Books, 1994